Below is my philosophy of nursing. I welcome any criticism or discussion. And maybe you could post your own philosophy of nursing. All nurses should have one, right?
Monistic Nursing
"The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
-- St. John 17:22-23 (NRSV)
When I think of myself as a solitary being in a world full of other solitary beings I am a victim of my own illusion. The multiplicity of individual beings is an illusion. There is only one being, and we are all it. Therefore, when I care for others, I care for myself; when I fail to care for others I hurt myself. In short: I am the other person, as much as I am me.
I call this philosophy of nursing "monistic nursing," and it centers on the idea that there's no real separation between the caregiver and the one receiving care; there's only the illusion of separation or differentiation. Nursing, in this regard, is a selfish act but with a twist: the definition of the self is extended outward to include other selves, and in so doing, the natural force of self-interest becomes the driving motivation to provide comprehensive and quality care.
In addition, monistic nursing doesn't stop at the patient; it includes everyone the nurse comes in contact with. It includes the patient's family, the nurse's coworkers, the management, and personnel from other departments. Monistic nursing considers all persons to be just one person. I am the housekeeper. I am the woman at the bedside suffering anticipatory grief. I am my coworker who's having a hard day.
So, the definition of nursing becomes an act whereby we demonstrate the belief that the word "I" is universal rather than solitary. "Nursing" and "Love" become synonymous.
Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.
Originally posted by llg
I am simply suggesting (as have many scholars) that even though we may genuainely care about people, we psychologically need a little distance sometimes in order to refresh our inner energies.
llg [/b]
Yes...my goodness, how can we possible bear the weight of all our patients problems, feelings, and sensations...and continue to function as they need us to.
To empathize is one thing...to take on the problems personally is quite another.
Yes...my goodness, how can we possible bear the weight of all our patients problems, feelings, and sensations...and continue to function as they need us to.
To empathize is one thing...to take on the problems personally is quite another.
Thank you! for understanding what I have been trying to say.
But the thing is you don't REALLY wanna serve your patients. If you did, you'd be interested in hearing and possibly honoring their views, preferences and choices.
Yes, over-involvement is one of the major causes of burnout -- but it's not the only cause. I never said it was the only cause. Also, there is a big difference between reading the comments of people who MAY be burned out ... or who are using a public forum to vent their frustration ... and the scientific literature, which you should be reading as well.
About the call light never being answered ... I never suggested that people should not answer a call light or should not appropriately treat a person in pain. I am simply suggesting (as have many scholars) that even though we may genuainely care about people, we psychologically need a little distance sometimes in order to refresh our inner energies.
Please don't assume that I mean that nurses should behave in uncaring ways toward their patients. That is not fair to me -- and if you care about me as much as you say you do, then you should not want to injure me in that way.
llg
IIg, please, since I so seldom can sound out the words in the scientific literature, please tell me where I might read something authoritative that says overinvolvement causes nurses to leave nursing. It's the least you can do after assuming I'm unlearned. I really would like to read one of those "scholar's" opinions. You know, the ones with DNSs that haven't been at a bedside in thirty years, and pray every night they never have to again.
I am in total agreement with llg - I believe that overinvolvement is one of the causes of burnout. I myself started heading down that path - I believe I was "overempathizing" - and would find myself becoming very saddenned to see a patient's name in the obituaries. (More than your average - that's a shame type of reaction). I had to do some serious soul searching to realize that this type of behavior was hurting me - and perhaps my patient's and their families at a time when they need an objective, clearly thinking nurse. I pride myself at being a very good, caring nurse, but I can see clearly what llg is saying.
I am reading all the post, and I wish I cuold all your "short-cuts" and "shortening"...It very interesting theme, and I really try hard to understand the "understatement"...I know this is an american/english-speaking chat-group, but may be we outside US can learn something from you...( I allready have learned a lot of both language and nursing, so dont misunderstand me...)!:)
ceecel.dee, MSN, RN
869 Posts
Yes...my goodness, how can we possible bear the weight of all our patients problems, feelings, and sensations...and continue to function as they need us to.
To empathize is one thing...to take on the problems personally is quite another.